If losing weight were as easy as cutting on food and shedding some weight, life would be so much easier, right? In reality, weight loss involves more than just sticking to one diet plan and working out endlessly.
A well-balanced diet and a holistic approach are the epitome of a healthy life. Disregarding some aspects in your weight loss routine can cause more harm than good. Here are some weight loss pitfalls that you may not be aware of, but may be practicing.
Making Up for Giant Meals by Working Out Extra Minutes
Lasting weight loss is not a product of exercise alone; both diet and physical activity contribute to the shedding of pounds. However, a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism found that dieting alone can be an effective weight loss strategy in itself, as effective as dieting with exercise combined. Still, this approach requires having a very clear idea of how much you should be eating, the limit of the number of calories you should consume every day to maintain your desired weight.
Working Out Too Early in the Morning
There is really nothing wrong with working out at 6 a.m., that is, if you sleep at 10 p.m. at night. More than your aim of waking up early, setting the alarm clock at 5 a.m., and running some miles, it is a much smarter move to prioritize getting enough sleep. In a recent study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, it was revealed that women who slept 7 or more hours every night were less likely to put on more weight than women who did not. Other studies have also found a link between lack of sleep and a higher BMI rate. Not getting enough zzz's also negatively affects ghrelin and leptin levels, appetite-regulating hormones.
